CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS. 399 



creatures themselves constituted a principal object in 

 the view of the Author of Nature. It must, however, 

 be acknowledged that many animals exist of which 

 we cannot perceive the utility. Many of them ap- 

 pear useless, arid several of them noxious to man. 

 Not a few of them likewise, especially among the 

 reptile and insect kinds, seem destitute of enjoyment, 

 and incapable of happiness. But, are we, my dear 

 Sir, able to penetrate into the secret recesses of na- 

 ture, to investigate the actions of every creature, to 

 examine their consequences, and calculate how far 

 they may be, if not directly and immediately, at least 

 indirectly and ultimately beneficial to our species ? 

 Or, are *we able exactly to estimate the felicity of 

 animals, or to explore the whole circle of their plea- 

 sures ? Hither our inquiries cannot reach. 



<t Here the cloud 



So with eternal Providence, sits deep 

 Enough for DJ to know thai this dark state 

 In wayward |>as s ion lost, and vain pursuits, 

 This infancy of Being cannot prove 

 The final issue of the works of God." 



In this present state of existence, my clear Sir, the 

 limitation of our faculties prevents us from fully com- 

 prehending the wonders of the creation; this grand 

 prerogative, this sublime enjoyment is certainly re- 

 served for rational beings in a future and more happy 

 state, when the mind, invigorated and expanded, 

 having all its pow ; ers renovated and improved, shall 

 be capable of boundless excursions, and of seeing 

 the image of the Deity clearly reflected from his 

 works. 



In our present state of being, in which we see the 

 mysteries of Nature and of Providence as it were but 

 dhmy through the veil that hangs before our eyes> 

 Reason, that 'inestimable gift of the Divinity, is 'suffi- 

 ciently illuminating to convince us that we ran only 

 see by parts, and those parts but imperfectly; while 

 the supreme intellect embraces in one comprehensive 

 view the whole system of Creation, and that what- 

 ever is the work Q infinite Wisdom is destined to 



